-:5 HOIITUS JAMAICE-NSIS. FEn>? 



nearly ovd, convex on one side and flat on the otlicr. Tlieir taste is moderately warm 

 anLl pungent ; their smell aromatic, but not of tlic most agreeable kind. Several pre- 

 parations of them are kept in tlie shops. They are recommended as a carruinativc, in 

 Saiulent choiics, proceeding from a cold canse or a viscidity of the juices. 



FERN. FILIX; 



Tins name is derived from filnm, a thread, from the threadiness of thcse plants, for 

 %vhich this is a general name ; tiiey constitute the first ortlcr of Linneus' class vrypto- 

 gamia^ called crxjptogamia jilices. The fructification of this curious and natural order 

 tiiffers essentially from all others, at least, in its situation ; being generally disposed 

 eitlicr in spots or hues on the nnder surface of the leaves or froncls, . There being no 

 certain distinctions in the fructification suScient- to establish the genera, and the jjartfj 

 being too small to be observeil v/ithovit the assistance of considerable magniticrs, the 

 genera are chiefly distinguished by the disposition of the seeds under their covers. 

 The general structure of the fructification in this order is the following : The calyx is 

 a scale, springing out of thg leaf, opening on one side ; under this scale, commonly 

 supported by little footstalks, but sometimes sessile^are globides for the most part en- 

 compassed by an elastic ring ; these burst with violence^ and scatter a .powder, whicli. 

 is supposed to be the seed. These globules or seed vessels are covered by a very fine 

 tlun semi-transparent skin,, v/hich bursts open before the seeds are ripe. When they 

 are ripe, the ring or cord endeavours to become straight,, and- by its elasticity bears 

 open the capsule, which then forms two hemispherical cups. . This curious mechanism 

 may be observed by the assistance of a good piogle microscope, with a reflecting spe- 

 cvilum. The pov/der which is dispersed in this manner is so niinule as hardly to be 

 visible to the naked eye. That it is the seed has been proveilj hy actually raising plants, 

 from that of the hart's tongue by Morriijon ; and lately in tlie most satisfactorv manner 

 by Mr. John Lindsay, formerly surgeon in Jamaiog,. from the polijpodiuvi Ij/copodioides 

 {see l'<jlypody), and related by. him in the Linnepji Transactions, y. 2, p. 98. . 



The uses of ferns are little known ; they grow in great plenty in Jamaica, and are 

 the worst weeds known, it being almost impossible to eradicate them, their roots takintj 

 such fast hold of the ground, some of them having been found to the depth of eigiic 

 feet. If cut v.'hen {reen and left to rot, tlje leaves are said to form a good manure. 

 Few of them ai'e esculent. They have a disagreeable heavy smell. In large doses they 

 are said to dcsti'oy worms, and some of them are purgative. In many parts of England, 

 it is common to burn them and make bidls of the ashes, with a little water, which they 

 dry in the sun ; they are called ask-balls, which are made use of to wash linen, and are 

 considered nearly-as goocl as soap ;,-, and might be rendered verynseful for that purpose, . 

 for scburiuij and cleansinsj ne^ro clothin'r. The balls, before thev are used, are made 

 red hot in the fire, and readily fail into powder wiien tbrown mto water. There are 

 about one hmjdred.ai5<l twenty different species of fern known in Jamaica, forparticu- ., 

 lar descri})tions of which 

 iSec Bleciinum F^ern, female Fouk-Ferx GolDy Locks Horse Tail ^Matdf.n . 



Hair^ Mauattia jNIarsilea MooNwoRT MutES Fekn Polypody Seu- - 



i>N.T's To.\gi;e Splee.nwort WoLP's Claw. 



